Stephen Gough

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stephen Gough, also known as Steve Gough and the naked rambler, is an activist from Eastleigh, Hampshire, famous for walking the length of Great Britain from Land's End to John o' Groats in 2003–2004 with nothing on except boots, socks, rucksack and sometimes a hat. He has been arrested several times and put in prison in the course of his ramble.

His second Land's End to John o' Groats ramble, in 2005–2006, accompanied by his girlfriend Melanie Roberts, has led to further arrests — the current total being over 20, the most recent of which for being in contempt of court as he appeared naked before a judge. He served a three month sentence in HMP Edinburgh. The walk was resumed on Sunday 12 February 2006, and completed shortly after on Monday 20 February the same year.

His website claims that ordering him to wear clothes for his court appearance "breached Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights - Right to a Fair Trial. In effect Articles 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 have been repeatedly breached by the authorities since Steve and Melanie arrived in Scotland."

He was involved with the public nudity advocacy group The Freedom to be Yourself.

Gough was arrested again on Thursday 19 May 2006 at Edinburgh airport after removing his clothes during a flight from Southampton to Edinburgh and refusing to get dressed.[1]. On 25 August 2006 he was given a seven month jail sentence.[2].